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Blacks - Catholics - Hispanics [- Jews] (1)
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Records of the White House Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff (Reagan Administration)
Michael Deaver's Subject Files
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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual
collections.
Collection: Deaver, Michael
Folder Title: Blacks-Catholics-Hispanics-
[Jews] (1)
Box: 35
To see more digitized collections
visit: https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories
visit: https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing
National Archives
Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
February 27, 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR MICHAEL K. DEAVER
DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF
FROM:
MARSHALL BREGER
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
FOR PUBLIC LIAISON
SUBJECT:
Jewish Heritage Week
As you know the White House has had occasion to develop
"theme" weeks over the past year to focus attention on
specific constituencies. Congress will shortly pass a joint
resolution asking the President to proclaim the week of
April 21, 1985 Jewish Heritage Week. I would urge that the
White House take the opportunity to make April 21-28,
1985 a Jewish "theme" week by focusing on a number of Jewish
events for that week. Among those events might be:
1.
Jewish Heritage Week Proclamation Ceremony
Last year Mr. Meese and Mr. Baker participated in the
proclamation of Jewish Heritage Week in a Roosevelt Room
ceremony. This year, I would urge the event be held in Room
450 of the Old Executive Office Building or the Indian
Treaty Room with Presidential participation. At this event
the President could "drop by" and speak for 10 minutes on
the contributions of Jewish culture to western civilization,
focusing on the 900th anniversary of the birth of Maimonides
the great Jewish philospher whose birthday this year is
being celebrated by Morocco as well as UNESCO and Israel.
2.
Photo Opportunity with Holocaust Survivors
April 17, 1985 is the "Day of Rememberance" for the holocaust.
The President participated in these Rememberance ceremonies
in 1981, 1982, and 1983. There is an expectation that he
will participate this year and the United States Holocaust
Council has requested that we replicate the East Room
ceremony we did in past years.
In my view, the President would be better served by meeting
instead with a small group of holocaust survivors in the
Roosevelt Room for a photo opportunity and short discussion.
That meeting should take place early in the week of the
April 20, 1985 and would focus on survivors and their
trammels, not on the Council itself. Doing this would serve
three purposes. (a) It would take some of the sting out
of the President's inability to go to Dachau, (b) it would
remove this program from the organizational control of the
Holocaust Memorial Council -- with whom the White House has
had bureaucratic problems in the past; (c) it would obviate
the necessity of the President's attendance at the Holocaust
Council ceremonies.
3.
Photograph Opportunity with Orthodox Leaders
The Orthodox Jewish community was the community most favorable
to the President in the November election. It contains a
Republican infrastructure from which the support for the
party will grow in the future. A photo opportunity with 8
to 10 Orthodox leaders would cement relations and express
appreciation for past loyalty.
4.
Non-Presidential Events
Other non-presential events could be scheduled as appropriate
during Jewish Heritage Week. For example, Health and Human
Services might arrange a meeting on its new Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with Israel on social services cooperation.
Opportunities abound.
April 21-28, 1985 would make an appropriate theme week. We
would build on the attention paid to the holocaust ceremonies
the week previous and would lead into the AIPAC national
policy conference April 27 -- the largest gathering of
Jewish political activists in the Washington area. Thus
this would be a good opportunity to highlight Jewish interests
and concerns and show the President interested in subjects
other than Israel.
I would be happy to review these thoughts with you at your
convenience. I will be in Israel, however, March 3-14, 1985.
Thank you.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CATHOLIC DELEGATION
September 10, 1984
Sent & John
Ohio
Herreapton
Mayor George Voinovich
Mayor of Cleveland.
Connecticut
Mayor Len Paoletta
Mayor of Bridgeport.
New York
Ed Rutkowski
Erie Co. Executive.
Illinois
Aloysius Majewski
President of the Polish National Alliance of Chicago.
Pennsylvania
Msgr. John Meyers
President, National Catholic Educational Assn
Illinois
Mrs. Rosemary Diamond
Helped start Birth Right of Chicago. Mother
of thirteen.
New Jersey
Congressman Matthew Rinaldo
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CATHOLIC DELEGATION
September 10, 1984
Ohio
Mayor George Voinovich
Mayor of Cleveland.
Connecticut
Mayor Len Paoletta
Mayor of Bridgeport.
New York
Ed Rutkowski
Erie Co. Executive.
Illinois
Aloysius Majewski
President of the Polish National Alliance of Chicago.
Pennsylvania
Msgr. John Meyers
President, National Catholic Educational Assn
Illinois
Mrs. Rosemary Diamond
Helped start Birth Right of Chicago. Mother
of thirteen.
New Jersey
Congressman Matthew Rinaldo
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
July 30, 1984
MEMORANDUM FOR DONNA BLUME
MB
FROM:
MARSHALL BREGER
SUBJECT:
Proposed Speaking Engagements for Mr. Deaver
Mote
before
desert
#
Since all of the 25 Energy CEO's and Washington Vice Presi-
dents will be out of town August 16-17, I would like to
propose changing the dates for lunch to September 11, 18 or
13.
Houston
With respect to the meeting with Jewish communal and financial
leaders, we could shift this to a dinner in Washington, D.C.
on August 16 or a dinner on either September 6, 20, 23, or
#2
25. If the dinner is held in New York City, I would arrange
more
a late afternoon meeting with communal leaders and a dinner
- 25 awend table
select
with financial leaders.
leconomy
2.quotas
aroup
For your information, I have enclosed a copy of my July 18,
1984 memorandum to you.
3. vaise comfort 18/ml
Thank you.
Attachment
Donna- Could you let me know asap if
these dates unh. Dinner Aug. it 16
am of be good with jemsh leaders M. as
would would mean only are talh by Deaver
in September
don't know
stoff
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
July 18, 1984
MEMORANDUM FOR DONNA BLUME
FROM:
MARSHALL BREGER
As we discussed, I wish to propose the following events
which I believe Mr. Deaver's participation would be useful.
1.
July 26 or July 27
Lunch with twenty Washington vice presidents and
CEO's involved in the energy industry. After
lunch, Mr. Deaver would speak for 10 minutes and
answer questions from the group for approximately
20 minutes about present developments in the
Administration. He would not speak about the
energy industry specifically.
While the energy industry has been supportive of
the Administration generally, we have done very
few formal events for industry representatives in
Washington, D.C. A number of Eagles would be
present.
Approve
Disapprove
2.
September 10-14
On some convenient date, I would propose to organize
a major event for Mr. Deaver which would assist in
developing the Administration's relationships with
the Jewish community.
If Mr. Deaver is able to travel to New York City,
I would propose a meeting with approximately forty
leaders of Jewish organizations followed by a
select dinner with a different group of twenty
financial and communal leaders. Participants for
both the meeting and the speech will be drawn from
the national Jewish community.
Should Mr. Deaver be unable to travel to New York
City to speak, I would propose to organize a
analogous dinner in Washington, D.C.
In my view, it would be preferable to have this
function in New York City because it would provide
for a more encompassing approach to the Jewish
community and would ensure the highest quality
participation by community leaders.
Approve
Disapprove
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 14, 1984
NOTE FOR DONNA BLUME
I very much need to know whether Mr. Deaver
wiould be interested in meetings with Jewish
leaders and with the energy community per
our discussions of late July.
I believe that both meetings would be very
useful, but need to know where we stand
before the Convention in order to make
post-Labor Day plans.
Thank you.
Marshall Breger
MB
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 17, 1984
NOTE FOR DONNA BLUME
FROM:
MARSHALL BREGER
BD
Following is a list of representative names of Jewish
community leaders that should attend the round table the
afternoon of September 23, 1984.
Nate Pearlmutter - Chairman, Anti-Defamation League
Kenneth Bialkin - Chairman of Conference of Presidents
of Major American Jewish Organizations
Robert Asher - President, American Israel Public Affairs
Committee
Ivan Novick - President, Zionist Organization of America
Alex Grass - International Chairman, United Jewish Appeal
The following is a list of representative individuals who would
be invited to dinner.
Nina Rosenwald - Sears Roebuck
Larry Tish - Loewes Hotel
Michael Saperstein - Manager Partner, Bear Stearns
George Klein - Builder
Peggy Tishman - Real Estate
Jay Zises - Integrated Research Corporation
I will secure persons of similar qualifications from other
parts of the country to fly to New York for these meetings.
Thank you.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 23, 1984
MEMORANDUM FOR MICHAEL K. DEAVER
FROM:
MARSHALL BREGER mB
I thought you might be interested in the attached
paper I prepared on issues connected with the Jewish
vote.
I would be interested in any comments you might
have.
Thank you.
Attachment
A JEWISH STRATEGY FOR 1984
8.22.84
The Reagan-Bush ticket has the opportunity to strengthen and consoli-
date the inroads it made in the traditionally Democratic Jewish vote in
1980. Jesse Jackson's campaign and new-found influence have sharpened the
growing divergence between Jewish voters and the Democratic Party. This
gives Republicans a unique opportunity, and it is up to us to capitalize
on these changes. This memorandum lays out the main considerations with
respect to the Jewish vote for Republican strategists in the 1984 Presi-
dential election.
1. Does the Jewish vote matter?
Yes. Jews make up 3% of the American population, but because they
vote in disproportionately high numbers they make up 6-7% of the elector-
ate. They are concentrated in important states--especially New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Illinois, and California.*
Moreover, a large share of the opinion makers who write in influen-
tial national newspapers and magazines are Jewish, so that Jewish opinion
is quickly disseminated and influences other voters--especially those who
are highly educated.
2. Can Reagan hope to do well among Jewish voters?
Yes. In 1980 Reagan won 40% of the Jewish vote. Much of that vote
was a reaction against the policies of Carter and Mondale--especially the
confusion on support of Israel at the U. N. symbolized by Andrew Young,
and the perception they shared with other Americans that Carter stood for
a weak America.
*The ten states with the largest Jewish populations, where Jews will have
significant impact on election results, have 223 of 538 electoral votes
-which is nearly 42%.
State
Jewish Population
Percentage
of
Population
'84 Electoral Votes
N. Y.
1,819,190
10.6
36
Cal.
789,260
3.2
47
Fla.
479,180
4.7
21
N. J.
425,180
5.9
16
Penn.
408,475
3.5
25
Ill.
261,985
24
Mass.
249,045
4.3
13
Md.
199,915
4.6
10
Ohio
137,785
23
Conn.
108,575
3.3
8
(Moreover, between 1980 and 1984, Texas [with 29 electoral votes] added
4,000 Jews to its population, raising the total to 77,100, and Arizona
[with 7 electoral votes] added 3,000 Jews, raising the total to 49,000.)
2
Some of those worries remain and can be pinned on the Democratic
candidates again. But now Jews will be looking at the Reagan record.
Republicans must emphasize the solid support that President Reagan has
given to Israel and to a strong defense. We must bring home the message
that a strong America supports a strong Israel, and we must point to the
dangers that the leftward lurch of the Democratic Party poses for Jews.
Since the French Revolution, Jews have thought that their welfare was
bound up with the success of liberalism. This opinion is rapidly dissolving.
We are at a watershed.
3. What could keep Jews from voting Democratic?
The Democratic Party has drifted far from its traditions of liberal
internationalism and an equal chance for all--the traditions of FDR and JFK.
Instead, it has heavily bought into neo-isolationist foreign policy and
racial quotas as a test of equal opportunity.
Despite Cuomo's efforts to recall the old family values, it is not
the same old Democratic Party that brought everyone under its old coalition.
It is now the party of gay and lesbian rights, unilateral disarmament, and
seeming sympathy with many of our enemies in the third world.
4. Don't the Jews have a strong antipathy towards the Republican Party
because of discriminatory treatment they've received from Republicans?
Not necessarily. True, in some places Republican businessmen kept
Jews out of the downtown clubs. But Democrats arguably had as big a role.
In most cases, these considerations are not decisive. Until FDR Jews voted
solidly Republican. The tradition among Jews of voting Democratic since
then comes more from a general agreement with the Democrats on policy than
from their having been treated better by Democrats. This agreement on pol-
icy is beginning to weaken.
5. What's the most important issue for Jews?
Support for Israel. Other issues matter, but if Jews lack the basic
feeling that a candidate is good for Israel, he can forget about getting
their votes. This may be for good or for ill, but it's simply a fact.
Democratic candidates, who have been used to counting Jews among
their supporters, say the right things about Israel almost as second nature.
This need not prevent us from competing for these votes. We need to remem-
ber that the President has an extraordinarily good record of support for
Israel.
At their Convention some Democrats invoked support for Israel almost
as if Israel were another disadvantaged client (along with blacks, homo-
sexuals, and the handicapped). Mondale did not mention Israel in his accep-
tance speech. It will help us enormously to suggest gently that we treat
Israel not as a charity case but as a valuable partner and ally, sharing
many common concerns.
3
6. Aren't Jewish voters concerned that any second-term President will be
less sympathetic to Israel than they would like?
Yes, many of them are. But the idea that any second-term President
will somehow be independent of public opinion to restrain him from doing
harm to Israel overestimates his insulation from ordinary political consid-
erations. Whatever may have been true for Jimmy Carter, President Reagan's
instincts and first term record are solidly pro-Israel. Republicans need
to send this message out to Jews.
To allay their worries about a second term, the President must make
the following points clear to Jews:
his deep and abiding support for the survival of Israel,
his appreciation of the long-standing enmities in the region and the
threats they pose to peace there,
his realistic appraisal that the chance of eliminating those enmities is
small, and
o his lack of inclination to tilt towards the Arabs.
7. But isn't it hopeless for Reagan to try to out-Israel Mondale?
Yes and no. Mondale himself has professed strong support for Israel.
No one would deny that. And at the Democratic Convention Cuomo invoked
the Party's old stance that Israel was America's one good friend in the
Middle East. Democrats are used to campaigning for the Jewish vote.
But other voices have begun to be heard in the Democratic Party.
Under Carter, America drifted away from Israel at the U. N., and this year
Jesse Jackson has tried to detach blacks from the American consensus in
support of Israel. His supporters sat on their hands during Cuomo's invo-
cation of Israel. Mondale's appointment of Bert Lance reminds Americans
that Democrats have questionable ties to the Arabs (recall Billiegate).
Mondale may indeed be a good friend of Israel. But the intellectual
baggage and personalities of much of the Democratic Party are not. A weak
America doesn't make for a strong Israel, Mondale's rhetoric notwithstand-
ing. Jews understand this, and they worry about it--but they need to be
reminded of it.
8. Wouldn't Mondale's appointees be more sympathetic to Israel?
No, probably not. The Democratic intellectual establishment on whom
Mondale would draw to staff the State Department and NSC is not solid any-
more in support for Israel. Flirtations with the PLO, or even with the
Soviet line that the Israelis are proto-fascist, are fashionable with many
trendy intellectuals. Jews should be encouraged to think concretely about
who would manage foreign policy under Mondale, and about what it would mean
to have a Secretary of State acceptable to Jesse Jackson.
4
Mondale's foreign policy advisors in the campaign have been drawn
from Brzezinski's old staff--David Aaron was number two at the NSC and Bob
Hunter was head of Brzezinski's Middle East desk. Jews are afraid of
Brzezinski's influence in a Mondale Administration. Other Carter appointees
such as Harold Saunders and Cyrus Vance still arouse fear in the Jewish
community, and the influence of George Ball is worrisome.
By contrast, a number of Republicans and other Administration offi-
cials-both Jews and non-Jews--are very popular today among Jews. Simply
compare Andrew Young to Jeane Kirkpatrick as Ambassador to the U. N. Aside
from the President and the Vice President, effective spokesmen would be
Rudy Boschwitz, Bill Bennett, Richard Perle, George Shultz, and especially
Jeane Kirkpatrick.
9. How can the Administration succeed in out-Israeling Mondale?
By convincing Jews that the Democratic policy of weakness in foreign
and defense policy will hurt Israel. This argument has been made persua-
sively by Norman Podhoretz and others, but our job this fall is to make it
stick. Jews, and others concerned about Israel, shouldn't trust the Demo-
crats, because a policy of weakness encourages adventurism by the Soviets
and by radical Arab states and movements.
The Democratic Party, which was once solid in support of American
internationalism, has grown neo-isolationist and pacifist in recent years.
Many Democrats have made a philanthropic exception to justify American sup-
port to Israel. That exception stood in contradiction to the new policies
of appeasement, and it was only a matter of time before it began to erode.
Jews, among others, are properly nervous about this.
Accordingly, the Administration
should contrast its real achievements in Israeli-American cooperation
with the mere professions offered by Democrats (these include free
trade, grants in aid, and strategic cooperation);
should point out that a strong Israel depends on a strong America, to
which the Democrats only give lip service;
should remind voters that they are electing not just Mondale but also
his friends (Jackson, Lance, and the pacifist intellectuals); and
should point out that the leftward drift of the Democratic Party has
opened the door to respectability for the PLO (which is absolute ana-
thema to the Jewish community).
10. How can we connect the general need for rebuilding our defenses with
the security requirements of Israel in the minds of Jews?
There are two important points here:
American military weakness and our inability or lack of will to respond
to threats firmly encourages terrorism, Soviet adventurism, and Arab rad-
5
icalism. To keep a lid on the particularly volatile Middle East, we need
to extinguish sparks before they set off larger fires. This firmness is
in Israel's best interests and Israelis know it. American Jews must be
made equally aware of this.
o If American stockpiles are low or if essential spare parts are unavail-
able, America cannot meet Israel's needs in the event of an emergency.
This is no hypothetical problem: in 1973 Nixon's airlift of supplies
to Israel came in the nick of time.
Furthermore, one can point to moral questions involved by reminding
Jews of the Soviet treatment of Jews and its support for Arab adventurism
around the world. Liberals have suggested that our resistance to Soviet
expansion and rejection of detente hurts Soviet Jews by hardening Soviet
attitudes against them. We need to emphasize that Soviet attitudes do not
spring from compassion or persuasion but from a cold calculation of their
own national interest--and as such our firmness gives hope to Soviet Jews
and other dissidents such as Andrei Sakharov.
11. Won't the President be hurt among Jews by the peace plan he offered
that was quickly rejected by Begin?
Not too much. This concern can be blunted by the fact that American
Jews, and Americans generally, tend to be more dovish than the Likud gov-
ernment was. But it is better to let them hold their own suspicions about
Begin (or Shamir) than to communicate the impatience that American negotia-
tors have had. Even Jews who prefer Labor do not take kindly to non-Jews
who criticize Likud "intransigence" too harshly, just as blacks who oppose
busing do not take kindly to whites who are against it.
Unless the Administration plans to go front and center with a new
peace plan this fall, the less said about the September 1 initiative the
better--at least through November. The fact that no Arab government is
prepared to jump in makes the issue only theoretical, and why argue over
theory? It is better for the President to emphasize his strong commitment
to the security of Israel.
12. Won't Mondale and the Democrats try to make an issue out of moving our
embassy to Jerusalem?
They may. This issue is very sensitive and emotional among Jews,
yet not many votes will be won or lost because of it unless the President
is forced to oppose the move by pleading out front the need to be fair to
Arabs. Besides, during the four years he was Vice President, Mondale him-
self did not do, or urge Carter to do, what he is now urging Reagan to do.
In fact, the Carter Administration opposed a Republican measure to
move our embassy to Jerusalem in 1979. Frankly, whatever we think of the
merits of the idea, it's easier to urge the move when you're in opposition
than it is when you actually have to conduct American foreign policy.
If Congress does pass a joint resolution urging us to move our embassy
to Jerusalem, the Administration should attack it as an infringement of
6
the conduct of foreign policy by the executive--as a separation of powers
issue--instead of stressing our disagreement with Israel (if any) as to
who should control Jerusalem.
13. But isn't Reagan vulnerable among Jews on the fairness issue?
Yes. It is doubtful whether any President can be elected who is seen
as lacking compassion towards the poor and the disadvantaged, and Jews will
be in the vanguard of those who insist on this compassion.
But Jews have seen reason to be skeptical of the usual Democratic
ideas about what constitutes fairness. In particular, they are suspicious
of quotas, which have in the past worked to the disadvantage of Jews.
Furthermore, Jews, like other Americans, are aware of the terrible
effect that a culture of dependency can have in creating a black "under
class." This permanent dependency can be blamed, in large part, on the
Great Society programs that turned America into a welfare state. Many
of the best critiques of this culture of dependency have been written by
neoconservative Jews.
14. Aren't Jews nervous about Jesse Jackson?
Yes, and this is the issue with the greatest potential for increasing
the Republican vote among Jews in the fall. Traditionally blacks and Jews
have made common cause in support of civil rights. Recently that alliance
has been strained because of black leaders' demands for affirmative action
and quotas, but the Jews have mostly gone along with those demands against
their own interests.
Jackson has been unfriendly to Jews and to Israel, welcoming notorious
anti-Semites like Farrakhan and friends in his entourage, saying nasty
things about Israel, and cozying up to the PLO. His limp and belated repu-
diation of Farrakhan, and his emotional "apology" at the Convention, such
as they were, have not allayed mistrust among Jews--even among liberals
who were itching to find grounds for reconciliation. Since the Democratic
Convention, Jackson has continued to be friendly to Farrakhan, and Jews
have reluctantly had to conclude that Jackson is no friend.
Here is what concerns Jews: Jackson is no friend, but they would
like to think Mondale is. Yet Mondale doesn't want to have to choose
between the blacks and the Jews. He won't quite repudiate Jesse Jackson.
Many Jews voted against Carter because they thought they couldn't count
on him. Mondale's indecisiveness, which reminds Jews of the indecisiveness
of Jimmy Carter in firing Andrew Young, makes them worry that he won't have
the guts to stand up for what's right if circumstances make it unpopular.
The connection between Carter and Mondale hurts Mondale among Jews.
15. Will the quota issue rouse the Jewish community?
The quota issue can be of great importance in reaching out for the
Jewish vote-not the least because it underscores the Democratic Party's
inability to shake off special interest politics. It is particularly
important to those Jews who are already friendly to the President--the
Orthodox and the lower middle class.
7
In treating this issue, the President must capture the moral high
ground. He should not allow himself to be tagged as not being strong on
civil rights. Instead, he should remind Americans that the Republican
Party is not the party of a bunch of fat cats--it's the party of Lincoln.
The Republican Party has a deeper devotion to equal opportunity than to
anything else. He should cite evidence that the Department of Justice has
prosecuted violations of civil rights and that the Administration has a
fine record of appointing minorities and women.
He should state his opposition to quotas as a crude method of trying
to accomplish a worthwhile goal by ignoring the civil rights of some Ameri-
cans. He should explain that not only does equal opportunity not require
quotas--it requires that we not have quotas. He should point out that the
Democratic platform supports quotas under a different name: "verifiable
measurements." As Ed Koch pointed out, the Democrats don't use the word
but that's what they mean. Our language this fall should specifically
reject not just quotas but the Democratic platform's euphemisms for quotas.
16. Aren't Jews concerned that President Reagan wants to "Christianize"
America?
Yes. Many Jews are fearful about the President's support for school
prayer and the idea of Christianizing America, worrying that Judaism will
be read out of the American civil religion. Jews have not always been
counted into the mainstream of American society, and they are concerned
about being counted out. This issue is most important to liberal Jews,
but it also packs a wallop with many non-Jews, including the so-called
yuppies.
It would help if the President referred to "our Judeo-Christian heri-
tage" wherever appropriate, and if he made it clear that he is encouraging
religious observance in general rather than the ascendance of any particular
religion. Among Jews this issue can be defused by close ties between Reagan
and the Orthodox Jewish community. For many Jews, who are less observant
than the Orthodox Jews, the approval of Reagan by that community validates
him and removes the worry that his religious agenda might be anti-Jewish.
17. Would it help for the President to announce the appointment of a Jew
to some high post?
Perhaps. The Administration has only a thin cadre of Jews in its
ranks, despite the large numbers of bright and sympathetic Jews available.
But frankly, at this point, it would do more good to give more public prom-
inence to Administration officials like Jeane Kirkpatrick, who are popular
among Jews.
18. Should Jews be treated primarily as a special interest group?
No. Though they have some strong concerns about Israel and about
quotas, these concerns are shared by other Americans as well-including
fundamentalist Christians. And Jews have considerable sympathy for the
President's agenda of restoring our economy, our military strength, and
the vitality of American families.
8
No special accommodation of the President's position to particular
concerns of Jewish voters is required--the Democrats have been doing alto-
gether too much of that kind of "trimming." The best way for the President
to campaign for the Jewish vote is simply for him to be himself.
*
*
WHAT IS TO BE DONE?
The Jewish campaign will turn on four factors:
relations between the United States and Israel,
anti-Semitism in the Democratic Party,
fears that the President wishes to Christianize America, and
(to a lesser extent) the fairness issue.
On the first two of these four issues, relations with Israel and our
response to anti-Semitism, the President is strong. The other issues
can be "contained" if the problems they represent are not highlighted
through November. For purposes of the campaign, the following positive
and negative themes should be the focus, in addition to the suggestions
set forth above.
Positive Themes
1. Support from the Orthodox Community
The President should highlight his strengths among Orthodox Jews
by emphasizing his concern for the following issues:
Tuition tax credits. The President could receive a petition from Ortho-
dox Jewish day school children in support of tuition tax credits (in
this well organized community almost 100% participation is possible).
Opposition to urban crime, drugs, and school violence. On average Jews
are older than other Americans, and they are disproportionately urban.
Moreover, they have a traditional respect for education.
Support for traditional American values. Reagan must be seen to include
the Orthodox community under this broad umbrella. Mondale's positions
on the social issues are anathema to Orthodox Jews.
2. Coalition Building
At the same time Republicans are hinting that there are undemocratic
elements in the Democratic Party, the President should be showing his own
inclination to accept a diversity of groups and concerns under his own coali-
tion. He was successful in doing this, for instance, at the events in com-
memoration of Henry Jackson. We should always be on the lookout for ways
to reach out to those who might be willing to ignore their Democratic past.
9
In particular, the President should underscore the extent to which the
Jewish community is part of the American community and support for Israel a
natural American thing to do. It is important to take away the ideas
that Jews are an improper special interest group with a parochial concern
for Israel, or
that a return to traditional American values means hostility to Jews.
By dedicating the West Point Jewish Chapel, the President could bring toge-
ther Jewish and American themes.
3. Free Trade with Israel
A treaty providing for the elimination of all tariff barriers between
the United States and Israel is now being negotiated. This treaty would be
a first for the United States.
If a bill approving a free trade area with Israel is passed in Sep-
tember, it could be the capstone of the campaign for the Jewish vote. It
would serve as a major theme of sermons at Jewish New Year services at the
end of the month.
4. Strategic Cooperation with Israel
Though Jews and other Americans have a sentimental and moral attach-
ment to the security of Israel, they know that nations have to be guided
by national interest and not by charity. Therefore, Jews are thrilled
when they hear it said that Israel is a power allied with America in sup-
port of democratic principles in the region, a crucial pillar of America's
global strategy, and a vital partner for NATO in the defense of the West.
We must, while remaining sensitive to security considerations, flesh
out the meaning of strategic cooperation for the voting public. Right now
their impression of it is too vague. Talking points should be agreed on
which explain that this cooperation means
o pre-positioning of armaments,
joint exercises, and
joint strategic planning.
In preparing the FY '85 budget we will have to ponder some of this anyway.
Republicans need to restate their 1980 campaign theme that Israel is
a strategic asset to the United States. This helps to remind voters of
their differences with the Democrats. The President could give a major
speech on Israel, underscoring the new initiatives he has taken in economic
and strategic partnership with Israel. This speech could be given at a
synagogue or before an audience connected with Israel. The proposal for
the President to receive an honorary degree from Tel Aviv University at a
10
dinner in the United States would provide an excellent opportunity to
highlight his affinity for Israel.
Negative Themes
1. Quotas
The President should explain his opposition to quotas, in the context
of his deep concern for civil rights and his support for the full partici-
pation of all groups in American life. This stance will help among white
ethnics and Hispanics as well as Jews. When Reagan speaks, he should make
it clear that the Republican Party is against quotas--by that name or by
any other names, such as the ones the Democrats used in their platform
(and he can quote it, together with what Ed Koch said).
Sympathetic academics should be organized to write pieces exonerat-
ing the President from the charge of indifference and laying out the jus-
tification for a race-blind policy.
2. Anti-Semitism
Republicans should remind voters that support for Mondale and Ferraro
entails some kind of accommodation of the concerns of Jesse Jackson, and
they should press the Democrats to say what it would be.
Specifically, Reagan or Bush might give a speech in New York after
the Republican Convention and argue as follows. Everyone knows that deals
are made in politics, and Mondale has made a lot of deals. He accepted
the Hart peace plank at the Convention, and he accepted quotas from Jackson
under other names. Mondale is a promiser. The question is: what else has
he promised Jesse Jackson? The American people have a right to know.
Anything that keeps Jesse Jackson in the news will hurt the Demo-
cratic ticket generally, and especially among Jews. It is not only Southern
Democrats who worry that the Democratic Party has been captured by a new
kind of black leadership--leadership that is hostile to Jews and to Israel.
It is a scandal that Democrats include people hostile to Jews in
their coalition, and they shouldn't be allowed to slip away from this
dilemma. People should be urged to wonder whether they should believe
the public professions of friendship with Israel by some Democrats or the
demonstrated hostility to Israel by others.
3. A Weak America and a Weak Israel
Though he has the support of the AFL-CIO and some of the Jackson Demo-
crats who have a better appreciation of the requirements for our defense,
Mondale does not repudiate the advocates of American pacifism, disarmament,
and neo-isolationism, as his acceptance of Hart's "peace" plank at the
Convention reminded us. This compromise, and its message to the Soviets,
properly worries those who are concerned about Mondale's decisiveness.
Jewish voters should be reminded that a weak America.cannot rise to
11
the defense of Israel, and that the new principles of the Democratic Party
sap the strength of those who would defend liberty.
*
*
*
SUMMARY
Voters, Jews and non-Jews alike, should be presented with the follow-
ing contrast to ponder:
Reagan
Mondale
proven record of leadership,
growing doubts about leadership,
exemplified by firing the air
exemplified by association with
traffic controllers, shooting
Carter, irresolution about the
down the Libyan planes, and
Jackson question, and taking
executing the Grenada rescue
back the firing of Manatt
concrete record of support for
rhetoric in support of Israel
Israel, with solid achievements,
at variance with the idea popular
backed by the resolution to see
among Democrats that peace means
that our defense is sure
U. S. concessions and pliancy
a man sure of himself, firm in
a man unsure of himself, always
his principles, with the cour-
accommodating himself to special
age to crack jokes when he was
interests, tending to crack when
shot
he is pressed
supported by an experienced
running with an untried amateur
Vice President with a proven
with a record of opposition to
record in foreign affairs
a strong defense
The President's record on the issues of concern to Jews is excellent. The
leaders of the Jewish community recognize it. Tom Dine of AIPAC admits it.
The Israelis are reasonably happy with it. Our job is to get this message
out-and turn this sometimes grudging admiration among Jewish opinion leaders
into Jewish votes in November.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
thone pelicio. him in
August 31, 1984
MD:
MEMORANDUM FOR MIKE DEAVER
FROM:
MEL BRADLEY
receiving
inquiry made was
SUBJECT:
Reverend T.J. Jemison
03
Per your inquiry regarding Reverend Jemison, we have been in
SP
frequent touch with the leadership of the National Baptist
Convention (NBC) and have received no indication of the potential
relay
endorsement that has been mentioned.
We had a personal conversation as recently as yesterday when I
called on the behalf of the White House to welcome him and his
organization to Washington where they will be holding their
9/6
annual convention from September 3-10 at the D.C. Convention
Center.
There are several factors which militate against an endorsement:
Jemison's long-term predecessor, Reverend Joseph Jackson,
endorsed President Nixon and, as a result, created a great
deal of opposition from much of the membership.
In winning the presidency in the Fall of 1982, Jemison
campaigned on a platform which emphasized strong support of
the civil rights leadership, which at this point is
anti-Reagan.
Jemison has a very strong political and personal relationship
with Jesse Jackson who supported him in ending the 28-year
reign of the previous NBC president.
o
Jemison personally envisions himself as becoming a very
popular president with the masses of the six to seven million
NBC church membership and sees his relationship with Jesse
Jackson and other popular black personalities as furthering
this objective.
I am not suggesting that the President not meet with Reverend
Jemison. As a matter of fact, I think he should. However, we
should not expect an endorsement. The most we can realistically
anticipate from such a meeting is that Reverend Jemison may not
join Ferraro and Jackson in attacking us politically at the
convention. Both are scheduled to speak. In the event the
President does not meet with him, it might be helpful for him to
give Reverend Jemison a telephone welcome.
DETERMINED TO BE AN
ADMINISTRATIVE MARKING
E.O. 12958, Sec 1.3(a)
cos
Date 6/6/11
THE WHITE HOUSE
CONFIDENTIAL
WASHINGTON
August 31, 1984
MEMORANDUM TO MICHAEL K. DEAVER
FROM:
J. DOUGLAS HOLLADAY
SUBJECT:
Proposed Meeting with Black Leaders
On September 6-7, Dr. T.J. Jemison leader of the largest black
organization in the world will convene 37,000 blacks in
Washington, D.C. He is a competitor of Jesse Jackson's and would
love the opportunity to take blacks in a direction in opposition
to him. Though Jemison publically remonstrates against the
President, through private sources, I understand that both
Jemsion and another black leader, Dr. O.J. Patterson, (who
represents 4 million American blacks) would endorse the President
if they could briefly meet with him. (See attached scheduling
proposal.) If this was done before the September 6 meeting, it
could be a real coup for the President and could serve to offset
Jackson's momentum in the black community. Of course this
meeting would need to be set up delicately and appropriately.
Mike, I felt that this was important enough to bring directly to
you.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
SCHEDULE PROPOSAL
August 20, 1984
TO:
FREDERICK J. RYAN, JR., DIRECTOR
PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS AND SCHEDULING
FROM:
FAITH RYAN WHITTLESEY
REQUEST:
Brief leaders: Meeting with 3 prominent black family
Dr. T.J. Jemison, President of the National
Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.
Dr. J.O. Patterson, Presiding Bishop of the
Church of God in Christ, Inc.
Mrs. Mary Ellen Strong, Editor, Black Family
Magazine and Black Family Journal
PURPOSE:
This meeting with the President brings the
Chief of State together with three of the
most influential blacks in America. Dr.
Jemison speaks for the largest black
organization in the world with 7.3 million
members. Mrs. Strong's publication, The
Black Family Magazine is highly regarded.
BACKGROUND:
The black church is enormously influential
among the black population. These black
leaders would like to express their support
for the President. They care deeply for the
country and feel as though this President is
committed to strengthening the economic and
social fabric of our society.
PREVIOUS
PARTICIPATION:
None
DATE & TIME:
September or October
LOCATION:
Oval Office
PARTICIPANTS:
Dr. T.J. Jemison, Dr. J.O. Patterson,
Dr. Mary Ellen Strong
OUTLINE OF EVENTS: It is important that they sit down for 10-15
minutes and have coffee with the President.
He would listen to them as they express their
support and appreciation and then he would
make several informal statements in response.
REMARKS REQUIRED:
None
MEDIA COVERAGE:
White House Photographer
RECOMMENDED BY:
Faith Ryan Whittlesey
PROJECT OFFICER:
J. Douglas Holladay
- THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 20, 1984
Dear Mary Ellen:
It was so good to talk with you. I am hoping
that we can put together the meeting that you
and I discussed. Let's hope so!
I will be in touch as things firm up from here.
Sincerel
J. Douglas Holladay
Associate Director
Office of Public Liaison
Dr. Mary Ellen Strong
President
Black Family International
360 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60601
BLACK FAMILY INTERNATIONAL
mee
360 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60601, (312) 855-0200
Bradley.
BLACK FAMILY MAGAZINE
BLACK FAMILY JOURNAL
ECUTIVE BOARD
July 31, 1984
ternational Chairman
T.J. JEMISON
ident
onal Baptist Convention. U.S.A., Inc.
ce Chairman
RETTA SCOTT KING
Mr. Douglas Holloday
ident
tin Luther King Jr. Center
White House
Nonviolent Social Change
Room 171
resident
MARY ELLEN STRONG
Washington D.C. 20500
lisher
ch Family Magazine
lembers
Dear Doug:
NRY AARON
BARBARA KING-BLAKE
You will find enclosed six magazines that are relative to
sident
ernational Congress of
our discussion today. America's two most influential Black
omen in Ministry
leaders are Dr. T. J. Jemison, our board chairman for Black
ONARD V. BRADY. ESQ.
Family International and president of the National Baptist
ORGE R. BROKEMOND
esident
Convention, U.S.A, Inc., a 7.3 (plus) million member organi-
ghland Community Bank
icago, Illinois
zation, the largest organized body of Black in the world;
and Dr. J.O. Patterson, presiding Bishop of the Church of
ARVA COLLINS
Educator
God In Christ, Inc., a 3.5. million member organization.
Preparatory School
ic
Illinois
HE HONORABLE
We are putting the final touches on our in-depth research
ALTER E. FAUNTROY
ember of Congress
project, BLACK FAMILY INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL. A beautiful
HE HONORABLE
hardbound collector's publication, the journal is a documen-
ATIE HALL
lember of Congress
tation of names, addresses, phone numbers categorized by
state of national Black businesses, financial institutions,
ESSE HILL, JR.
resident
organizations -- social and civic, religious groups, African
tlanta Life Insurance Company
and Caribbean Embassy offices and much more. Our journal
ANICE HUTCHINSON, M.D.
ediatrician
will also have 14 special categories with individual high-
MAYNARD H. JACKSON, ESQ.
lights of an outstanding person or institution that have
EROY JEFFRIES
made significant contributions to the betterment of life in
resident
effries & Associates
America.
ERREL W. JONES
hairman/CEO
Courier Communications Corporation
Further, we are saluting the 1904 Olympics. I was thorough-
MARTIN LUTHER KING III
ly impressed and deeply moved by the opening ceremonios and
Martin Luther King Jr. Center
or Nonviolent Social Change
festivities. It seemed to have rekindled love and respect
HERMAN J. RUSSELL
for our leader, flag and country true American spirit.
Chairman/CEO
H.J. Russell Company
Therefore we will pay special tribute to Olympiad XXIII--One
DR. JULIUS S. SCOTT, JR.
of America's Finest Hours.
Associate General Secretary
Board of Higher Education & Ministry
United Methodist Church
Over and above, we are dedicating a number of pages to our
THE HONORABLE JAMES.N STRONG
Consul for the state of Illinois
president, Mr. Reagan. For example, photographs of the
The Gambia, West Africa
signing of the Martin Luther King Holiday, the president
LOUIS W. SULLIVAN, M.D.
President
recognizing Michael Jackson for his contribution to public
Morehouse School of Medicine
service advertisements and other significant pictures of
HONORABLE
REW YOUNG
Blacks who have had an audience with the president. If we
or, Atlanta, Georgia
can obtain photos of the proposed meeting we discussed in
time Ior our deadline, they too will be included in this
exclusive journal.
Page 2
July 31, 1984
Mr. Douglas Holloday
It would be of great value and tremendous impact if BLACK
FAMILY INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL could be released before No-
vember. Doug, if at all possible can you arrange a meeting
for me to meet with Frank Fahrenkopf.
Our president had done some very outstanding things with
Blacks in America and we are going to tell America and the
world about them.
Sincerely,
Mary Ellen
MARY ELLEN STRONG
MES:cmi
Enclosures
U.SA. 8/31/84. Today.
NEWSMAKERS
BEHIND THE SCENES WITH PEOPLE IN THE HEADLINES
Reverend guides
blacks on paths
both holy, political
Don't tell the Rev. T.J. (for
"The black church has always
Theodore Judson) Jemison re-
been in politics," Jemison said.
ligion and politics don't mix.
In 1953, he led the USA's
By Bill Feig, AP
As president of the 7 million-
first bus boycott, which inte-
JEMISON: President of 7 mil-
member National Baptist Con-
lion-member black church
grated city transit in Baton
vention USA, Inc. - the na-
Rouge, La., in just eight days.
tion's largest black church -
"My predecessor was a pas-
"I gave Dr. King the blue-
Jemison made sure to schedule
sivist. I'm an activist," said Je-
print for Montgomery (Ala.),"
the church's election-year con-
mison. And not just politically:
he said, recalling the Rev.
vention in Washington, D.C.
when not traveling 200,000
Martin Luther King Jr.'s fam-
"We wanted to have impact
miles a year on church busi-
ous 1955 bus boycott. By then
in the nation's capital on the
Jemison was the convention's
ness, he plays pingpong and
presidential election," said Je-
basketball in the Mount Zion
general secretary, and he
mison, 64, who will bring
Baptist Church gym.
helped King found the South-
37,000 conventioneers to town
Their son and two daughters
ern Christian Leadership Con-
next week. "We don't think the
ference.
grown and married, Jemison
occupant in the White House
and his wife, Celestine, live in
In 1961, the friendship
has our best interests at heart."
an expensive Baton Rouge, La.,
strained. King and 500,000 fol-
In his keynote speech, the
neighborhood. But he said
lowers quit and started the Pro-
deep-voiced pastor will call for
their $275,000 home and his
gressive National Baptist Con-
1 million new black voters by
blue-and-gold Cadillac stretch
vention because Jemison's
November - to go with the 2
limousine (for official busi-
boss, the Rev. Joseph H. Jack-
million the denomination al-
ness) don't bother church
son, kept the church out of the
ready helped the Rev. Jesse
members. "They feel that
civil rights protest movement.
Jackson register to vote.
when you get to be president of
Jemison stayed - and after
He endorsed Jackson's presi-
biding his time 21 years, un-
the largest thing that Negroes
dential bid and urges pastors to
have, nothing is too good."
seated president Jackson in the
seek voters as well as souls:
convention's 1982 election.
- Patrick O'Driscoll